Panzermuseum Thun

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Panzermuseum Thun
Panzermuseum Thun - Panzerjager G 13 (Hetzer) 01.jpg
Panzerjäger G 13 (2011)
Panzermuseum Thun
LocationOutdoor area of the Thun weapons range
TypeHistory museum, technology museum
Visitors6600 (2011)
DirectorSwiss Army Museum Association
Website Panzermuseum Thun on the HAM Foundation website

The Panzermuseum Thun was a museum in Thun in the Canton of Bern in Switzerland. [1] Exhibited in the museum were foreign and Swiss tanks as well as examples of Swiss self-propelled artillery and static artillery. [2] After an announcement in November 2023, the museum's outdoor collection was dissolved and closed to the public in 2024.

Contents

Description

Until the museum's dissolution, a number of vehicles were exhibited in the open air at the Thun weapons range and were able to be viewed during office hours of the Swiss Army Museum Association within the Dufour barracks, entrance on Military Street. Since some of the over forty exhibits had been stored in the open air for a long time, a large number of them were restricted in their ability to drive and function. [2]

Due to the museum's closure, its outdoor inventory was largely transferred to other collections. Non-swiss vehicles were moved to the Swiss Military Museum in Full-Reuenthal, while domestic vehicles were handed over to the collection of the Historic Military Equipment Foundation in Burgdorf, Switzerland. A small selection of vehicles remains in Thun, though this collection is now inaccessible to the general public save for guided tours upon request. [3]


Exhibits

The following exhibits were able to be seen on the exhibition grounds:

NameType – year of manufacture – procurementCharacteristicsPhoto
Vickers-Carden-LoydLight combat vehicle (GB), manufactured in 1934, 6 units were purchased for the Swiss Army (2 in 1934, 4 in 1935)2 men, 1 × 7.5 mm machine gun, 3.8 tons Panzer Schweizer Armee 1930er Jahre.jpg
Renault FT Light combat vehicle (F), manufactured from 1917, 5 units were purchased (2 in 1921, 3 in 1939)2 men, 1 × 3.7 cm cannon, 6.7 tons Leichter Panzer RENAULT FT 17.jpg
Tiger II "Königstiger"King Tiger B, main battle tank (D), manufactured in 1944, handed over to the Swiss Military Museum in 2007 as a permanent loan. [4] 1 × 8.8 cm cannon L71, 3 × 7.92 mm-MG, 5 men, 68 tons Tiger II mg 7800.jpg
T17E1 Staghound Scout tanks (GB), manufactured in 1943, 64 units were purchased (early 1950s), never introduced, used as target vehicles5 men, 1 × 37 mm cannon, 2 × MG, 12 tons Staghound-latrun-3.jpg
M3Special tank (USA), year of manufacture 1941/42, conversion from M4 main battle tank6 men, dummy cannon, 27 tons
Panzer 68 Panzer 68/88, Swiss main battle tank (CH), manufactured 1988–1993, 195 units4 men, 1 × 10.5 cm cannon, 2 × 7.5 mm MG, 41 tons Panzer 68 slash 88 pic08.JPG
Centurion (tank) Centurion main battle tank (GB), procurement 1958–1960, 100 units procured4 men 1 × 10.5 cm cannon, 2 × 7.5 mm MG, 50 tons Centurion cfb borden 1.JPG
Entpannungspanzer 65 Prototype special tank on chassis Pz 61 (CH), one example procured4 men, 40 tons Entpannungspaanzer 65 pic04.JPG
M48 Patton Main battle tank (USA), year of manufacture 1954, exchange item4 men, 1 × 9 cm cannon, 1 × 7.62 mm MG, 1 × 12 mm MG, 45 tons M48 Patton Thun.jpg
Nahkampfkanone 1 Self-propelled gun (CH), year of manufacture 1943, prototype on an extended Pz 39 chassis5 men Nahkamofkanone I pic04.JPG
7.5 cm cannonlater 10.5 cm Howitze 4210 tons
Nahkampfkanone 2 GustavAssault gun (CH), year of manufacture 1942–1945, prototype in four versions, no series production5 men, 7.5 cm anti-tank gun, 24 tons Nahkampfkanone II 'Gustav' Military of Switzerland.jpg
Schützenpanzer Lang HS.30 Armored personnel carrier (D), manufactured from 1956, two prototypes without a turret in military testing, exchange item2+8 men, 1 × 20 mm cannon, 14.6 tons Schutzenpanzer Lang HS 30.jpg
Panzerwagen 39 (Praga)Light combat vehicle (CSR/CH), year of manufacture 1938–1939, 24 purchased3 men, 24 mm cannon 38, 2 × 7.5 mm machine guns, 8 tons Panzerwagen 39 'PRAGA'.jpg
Universal Carrier T16Transport vehicle for Panzer-Grenadiers (GB), manufactured in 1944, 302 purchased, sold again in 19652+6 men, 4.7 tons Universal Carrier No 1.jpg
Hetzer Self-propelled gun (CSR/D), year of manufacture 1944–1949, 158 purchased1 × 7.5 cm anti-tank gun 1940, 1 × 7.5 mm MG, 4 men, 16 tons Panzermuseum Thun - Panzerjager G 13 (Hetzer) 01.jpg
Leichter Panzer 51Scout tank (F), year of manufacture 1953–1957200 bought

AMX 13 pic05.JPG

7.5 cm tank gun 511 × 7.5 mm machine gun, 3 men14,5 tons
AMX 13 self-propelled howitzerTank artillery (F), manufactured in 1956, 4 purchased for troop trials
10.5 cm howitzer L301 × 7.5mm or 7.62mm machine gun, 5 men16,5 tons
Panzer 58 Main battle tank (CH), year of manufacture 1958, 2 prototypes, 10 pre-series vehicles1 × 8.4 cm tank gun 58, 1 × 20 mm cannon, 1 × 7.5 mm MG, 4 men, 35 tons Panzer 58.jpg
Saurer Tartaruga Combat armored personnel carrier (CH), manufactured in 1959 or later, an exhibit purchased for testing1 × 20 mm MK, 3+9 men, 18.2 tons (with turret) Schutzenpanzer Saurer Tartaruga.jpg
Mowag Pirat Combat armored personnel carrier (CH), manufactured in 1962, an exhibit purchased for testing1 × 20 mm cannon (turret dismantled), 3+9 men, 18.1 tons Mowag 3M1 Pirat 18.jpg
Fliegerabwehrpanzer 68 Special tank (CH), year of manufacture 1977/78, 2 prototypes2 × 35 mm cannon Oerlikon KDA, 3 men, 46 tons Fliegerabwehrpanzer 68 SPAAG pic03-1.JPG
15 cm heavy howitzer 1942L28 howitzer (CH), manufactured in 1942ready to fire 6.8 tons
76.2 mm anti-tank gunAnti-tank gun "Ratsch-Bumm“ (USSR), manufactured in 1938 [5] 2 tons
4.7 cm Pak on Renault R35Tank destroyer (D), year of manufacture 1941–1944, gift from F, trials in CH1 × 4,7-cm-anti-tank gun (CSR), 3 men, 10 tons
Sturmgeschütz III Sturmpanzer (D), year of manufacture 1943–1945, gift from F, trials in CH1 × 7.5 cm cannon L48, 1 × 7.92 mm MG, 4 men, 24 tons StuG III G 1 sk.jpg
Hetzer Tank destroyer (CSR/D), year of manufacture 1944–1945, gift from F, trials in CH, predecessor of the G131 × 7.5 cm anti-tank gun 39 L48, 1 × Flab-MG, 4 men, 16 tons Hetzer cfb borden 1.JPG
Jagdpanzer IV/48Assault gun (D), year of manufacture 1943–1945, gift from F, trials in CH1 × 7.5 cm cannon L48, 1 × 7.92 mm MG, 5 men, 24 tons Jagdpanzer IV 48 Thun 1.jpg
Panzer IV Typ HMain battle tank (D), year of manufacture 1937–1945, gift from F, trials in CH1 × 7.5 cm cannon L48, 2 × 7.92 mm MG, 5 men, 22.4 tons Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausfuhrung H pic01.JPG
Jagdpanzer V JagdpantherTank destroyer (D), year of manufacture 1943–1945, gift from F, trials in CH1 × 8.8 cm cannon L71, 1 × 7.92 mm MG, 5 men, 46 tons

Jagdpanther Thun 1.jpg

Panther tank Main battle tank (D), year of manufacture 1943–1945, gift from F, trials in CH1 × 7.5 cm cannon L70, 3 × 7.92 mm MG, 5 men, 44.8 tons Panther Thun 1.jpg
8,8 cm PaK 43 L71 from battle tank VI Tiger II (D), manufactured in 1944Ball screen Tiger II from battle tank VI Tiger II (D), year of manufacture 1944, thickness 150 mm PaK43-41 base borden military museum 4.jpg
M7 Priest Self-propelled gun (USA), year of manufacture from 1942, gift from F, trials in CH1 × 10.5 cm howitzer, 1 × 12.7 mm MG, 7 men, 24 tons M7 'Priest' pic10.JPG
Schützenpanzer SPz 11-2 Kurz HotchkissArmored personnel carrier (F), year of manufacture 1951, exchange item, special equipment for radio operators1 × 7.5 mm MG, 2+5 men, 8 tons Bundeswehrmuseum Dresden 60.jpg
M47 Patton Main battle tank (USA), manufactured in 1950, purchased for trials in CH1 × 9 cm cannon L70, 2 × 7.62 mm MG, 1 × 12.7 mm MG, 5 men, 44 tons M47 Patton( Jeff Kubina).jpg
M4 Sherman Main battle tank (USA), manufactured in 1942, purchased for tests in Switzerland1 × 7.5 cm cannon, 2 × 7.62 mm MG, 1 × 12.7 mm MG, 5 men, 32 tons Sherman Dresden 1.jpg
Centurion BridgelayerBridge-laying tank (GB), year of manufacture 1961–1963, 2 exhibits purchased for tests in the CH chassis such as the Pz 57 Centurion3 men, 50.8 tons

Centurion Bridgelayer.jpg

Centurion (tank) Main battle tank (GB), year of manufacture 1948–1952, purchased in Canada1 × 8.4 cm cannon, 2 × 7.6 mm MG, 4 men, 50 tons Centurion Mk III pic04.JPG
T-34/85 Kampfpanzer (UdSSR)Year of manufacture 1943–1953, exchange item1 × 85 mm cannon, 2 × 7.62 mm MG, 5 men, 32 tons T-34-85 lipiec 2007 RB1.JPG
AMX-VCI Armored personnel carrier (F) (Infantry Combat Vehicle), manufactured from 1955, purchased for trials in Switzerland1 × 7.62 mm machine gun in turret (removed), 2+10 men, 12.5 tons AMX-VCI-latrun-2.jpg
T-54 Main battle tank (USSR), exchange item1 × 10 cm cannon, 2 × 7.62 mm MG, 4 men, 36 tons T-54-.jpg
Leopard 2 Main battle tank (D) M+77101 was the first of 35 Leopard 2s delivered from Germany in 1987, 345 Leopard 2s were manufactured in Thun until 19934 men, 120 mm smoothbore cannon, 42 rounds, 62 tons Pz 87 Leopard - Seite - Schweizer Armee - Steel Parade 2006.jpg

Literature

References

  1. "Aviation Museum Swiss Air Force". Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Panzermuseum Thun" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-05-18.
  3. "Panzermuseum Thun und Schweizerisches Militärmuseum Full". Archived from the original on 2025-03-07.
  4. "English – Military and Fortress Museum Full-Reuenthal" (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  5. Information according to Panzermuseum Thun. but not possible because the weapon was only developed two years later and was only produced from 1941 onwards

46°45′28″N7°36′59″E / 46.757834°N 7.616363°E / 46.757834; 7.616363